Soap Membrane Filter

Problem Number # 8
PakTurk Maarif Schools Boys Campus Lahore
Context
• Problem Statement
• Theory/Explanation
• Preface
• Experimental setup and introduction
• Relevant Parameters
• Compilation of Result
• Conclusion
Problem Statement
A heavy particle may fall through a horizontal soap film without
rupturing it. However, a light particle may not penetrate the film and
may remain on its surface. Investigate the properties of such a
membrane filter.
Theory
• Soap water is surfactant and so soap film is formed.
• Soap water has hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles
• They attract the same kind of particles.
• This forms two films with water in between.
• The films prefer to stay in the lowest energy state.
• When forced out of the state, the film ruptures.
 Weber’s Number
The Weber number (We) is a dimensionless number in fluid
mechanics that is often useful in analyzing fluid flows where there is an
interface between two different fluids for multiphase flows ,especially
with strongly curved surfaces and hence we decide to give it a mention,
but not an elaboration. The following is its formula:
 Weber’s Number

𝑝𝑣2𝑙
𝑊𝑒 =
𝜎
Where:
• 𝑝 is the density of the fluid (kg/m3).
• 𝑣 is its velocity (m/s).
• 𝑙 is its characteristic length, typically the droplet diameter (m).
• 𝜎 is the surface tension (N/m).
 Proper surface tension is needed to produce soap film

Hydrophilic
head Soap molecules

Water

Soap molecules

Hydrophobic • Soap film is formed due to Marangoni effect

tail • Soap lowers the surface tension of water

7
 The Marangoni Effect

The Marangoni effect (also called the Gibbs–Marangoni effect)

is the mass transfer along an interface between two fluids due to
a gradient of the surface tension. In the case of temperature
dependence, this phenomenon may be called thermo-capillary
convection
Proper surface tension is needed to produce soap film

• Soap film is made from soap and water

Soap molecules
Water

Soap molecules

9
 Hydropholic and Hydrophobic Molecules
• The hydrophilic head will attract water molecules and hydrophobic
head will repel water molecules.
• Soap is a long molecule with a hydrophobic end (a end that does
not like water) and a hydrophilic end (an end that likes water).
• When the hydrophilic ends bond to the H2O molecules, they tend to
break the bonds between water molecules and form a layer on the
surface.
• This new arrangement lowers the surface tension. Soap has a lower
surface tension than water, so the soap will move towards the water.
 Hydropholic and Hydrophobic Molecules
• The film consists of a thin sheet of water sandwiched between two
layers of soap molecules. One end of each soap molecule is
hydrophilic, or attracted to water.
• The other end consists of a hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain that tends to
avoid water. The hydrophobic ends of the soap molecules crowd to the
surface, trying to avoid the water, and stick out away from the layer of
water molecules.
• As a result, water molecules separate from each other. The increased
distance between the water molecules causes a decrease in surface
tension.
 Hydropholic and Hydrophobic Molecules
• The soap molecules “surround” the water molecules, with the “water
sticky” bits pointed towards the water, and the “water repellent” bits
pointed away from the water.
• This is what the surface of a soap film is — a thin layer of water
sandwiched between the soap molecules.
• The hydrophilic end is attracted towards water while he hydrophobic
end points away from the water film.
PREFACE
 Relationship of concentration of soap film with duration of
soap film

• The film formed from the solution with maximum

concentration (80%surfactant and 20%water) exists
for 19.5s(approx.)
• Whereas the film formed from the solution of (20%
surfactant and 80% water ) exists for 6.04s(approx.)
• Similarly the solution with concentration(50%
surfactant and 50%) exists for long time 16.3s
(approx.)and produce maximum bubbles per second.
• On other hand the film formed from the solution of
minimum concentration (1%surfactant and 99%)
lasts for 5.54s(approx.) 14
 Relation of concentration with duration of soap film

100%
CONCERNTRATION OF

80%
DETERGENT

60%

40%

20%

0%
5.54s 7.02s 16.02s 22.37s
TIME PERIOD OF SOAP FILM
15
 Film duration and Surface tension

• As it can be seen on the past slide, the duration

of the film has a direct relation with the
amount of surfactant
• It also points out that an increase in the duration
means a decrease in the surface tension
• Hence the amount of surfactant is inversely
proportional to surface tension.
 Surface Tension
0.008

0.007

0.006

0.005

0.004
Surface Tension
0.003

0.002

0.001

0
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Experimental Setup and
Introduction
 Experimental Setup Soap
water

Custom
Modified
Ring Weighing
Balance
 Preliminary Observations

The following are the preliminary observations for 75% surfactant and
25% water (our standard bubble water)
• Increasing the film’s diameter had an increase in the film’s strength from
~5.5cm-~12cm
• The strength of the film decreased from:
 >~5.5cm as the water molecules were too close to each
other, hence increasing the surface tension and making the
film unstable.
 ~<12cm as even the low amounts of the substance forced
the film out of its lowest energy state
 Preliminary Observations
The ratio of surfactant to water was an important
factor.
• The ratios below 40:60 were too weak to sustain
even the slightest of granular mass, even with the
addition of a stabilizer (glycerin).
• Even at 50:50 and 60:40, the prominent results were
that between 6 cm and 9 cm (which were also very
low)
• At 75:25 we got adequate results
• Incursion from then onwards only increased the
film’s strength until ~92:~8
 Preliminary Observations
• The addition of a stabilizer also altered the results as it
made the film viscous
• The size of the objects did not matter unless they had
sudden changes in their cross sectional area, though
the force they were thrown from did matter.
RELEVANT PARAMETERS
 Relevant Parameters

The relevant parameters identified were:

• The surfactant to water ratio
• The addition of a stabilizer
• The diameter of the soap film
• The viscosity of the soap water
COMPILATION OF RESULTS
 Compilation of Results

The following are the observations for 75% surfactant and 25%
water (our standard bubble water)
Diameter of the film Sustainability Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)
4 cm 0.13 g 0.0025
5cm 0.26 g 0.0062
6cm 0.41 g 0.012
7cm 0.42 g 0.02
8cm 0.51 g 0.025
9cm 0.57 g 0.03
10cm 0.68 g 0.0035
11cm 0.73 g 0.0039
12cm 0.77 g 0.045
13cm 0.36 g 0.019
 Compilation of Results
Sustainability
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
Sustainability
0.4
Poly. (Sustainability)
0.3
0.2
y = -0.0015x4 + 0.0302x3 - 0.2041x2 + 0.6193x - 0.3317
0.1 R² = 0.9734
0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Compilation of Results
The following are the observations for 75% surfactant and 25%
water (our standard bubble water)+ glycine as a stabilizer.
Diameter of the film Sustainability Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)

4 cm 0.16 g 0.003
5cm 0.27 g 0.0037
6cm 0.46 g 0.013
7cm 0.49 g 0.016
8cm 0.58 g 0.024
9cm 0.63 g 0.027
10cm 0.73 g 0.035
11cm 0.79 g 0.042
12cm 0.83 g 0.048
13cm 0.42 g 0.0026
 Compilation of Results
Sustainability
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
Sustainability
0.4
Poly. (Sustainability)
0.3
0.2
y = -0.0014x4 + 0.0275x3 - 0.187x2 + 0.5916x - 0.2958
0.1 R² = 0.9648
0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Compilation of results
Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)
0.06
y = -0.0001x4 + 0.0024x3 - 0.0149x2 + 0.0386x - 0.0256
R² = 0.9161
0.05

0.04
Force Needed to Rupture
0.03 (N/cm)
Poly. (Force Needed to
0.02 Rupture (N/cm))

0.01

0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13 cm
 Comparison
0.9 y = -0.0014x4 + 0.0275x3 - 0.187x2 + 0.5916x - 0.2958
R² = 0.9648
0.8

0.7
Sustainability
0.6

0.5 Sustainability (glycrine)

0.4 Poly. (Sustainability)

0.3
Poly. (Sustainability
0.2 (glycrine))
4 3 2
y = -0.0015x + 0.0302x - 0.2041x + 0.6193x - 0.3317
0.1
R² = 0.9734
0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm11cm12cm13cm
 Compilation of Results
The following are the observations for 85% surfactant and 15% water :
Diameter of the film Sustainability Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)

4 cm 0.14g 0.0026
5cm 0.26 g 0.0058
6cm 0.43 g 0.012
7cm 0.47 g 0.016
8cm 0.55 g 0.02
9cm 0.61 g 0.026
10cm 0.69 g 0.033
11cm 0.74 g 0.039
12cm 0.81 g 0.043
13cm 0.39 g 0.024
 Compilation of Results

Sustainability
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4 Sustainability
0.3 Poly. (Sustainability)

0.2
y = -0.0009x4 + 0.0166x3 - 0.1143x2 + 0.4102x - 0.1839
0.1 R² = 0.9893
0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Compilation of Results
Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)
0.05
0.045
0.04
0.035
0.03 Force Needed to Rupture
0.025 (N/cm)
0.02 Poly. (Force Needed to
Rupture (N/cm))
0.015
0.01
y = -7E-05x4 + 0.0013x3 - 0.0082x2 + 0.0231x - 0.0147
0.005
R² = 0.982
0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Compilation of Results
The following are the observations for 85% surfactant and 15% water
with stabilizer(glycerin) :
Diameter of the film Sustainability Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)

4 cm 0.17 g 0.0033
5cm 0.30 g 0.0073
6cm 0.47 g 0.013
7cm 0.56 g 0.019
8cm 0.64 g 0.025
9cm 0.72 g 0.031
10cm 0.77 g 0.037
11cm 0.84 g 0.045
12cm 0.96 g 0.056
13cm 0.51 g 0.032
 Compilation of Results
Sustainability
1.2

0.8

0.6 Sustainability
Poly. (Sustainability)
0.4

y = -0.0014x4 + 0.0268x3 - 0.1841x2 + 0.6021x - 0.3

0.2
R² = 0.9476

0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Compilation of Results
Force Needed to Rupture (N/cm)
0.06

0.05

0.04
Force Needed to Rupture
0.03 (N/cm)
Poly. (Force Needed to
0.02 Rupture (N/cm))
y = -8E-05x4 + 0.0016x3 - 0.0098x2 + 0.0278x - 0.0177
0.01 R² = 0.9588

0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Comparison
1.2
Sustainability for 70:30
1
Sustainability for 70:30 and
0.8 stabilizer
Sustainability for 80:20
0.6
Sustainability for 80:20 and
0.4 stabilizer
Poly. (Sustainability for 70:30)
y= -0.0014x4 + 0.0268x3 - 0.1841x2 + 0.6021x - 0.3
0.2 R² = 0.9476
Poly. (Sustainability for 80:20
0 and stabilizer)
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 Comparison
0.06

y = -7E-05x4 + 0.0013x3 - 0.0082x2 + 0.0231x - 0.0147 Force Needed to Rupture

0.05 (N/cm)70:30
R² = 0.982
Force Needed to Rupture
0.04 (N/cm) 70:30 +glycerin
Force Needed to Rupture
0.03 (N/cm) 80:20
Force Needed to Rupture
0.02 (N/cm) 80:20glycerin
Poly. (Force Needed to
Rupture (N/cm)70:30)
0.01 y = -7E-05x4 + 0.0013x3 - 0.0082x2 + 0.0231x - 0.0147
R² = 0.982 Poly. (Force Needed to
Rupture (N/cm) 80:20)
0
4 cm 5cm 6cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 11cm 12cm 13cm
 CONCLUSION
• The water to surfactant ratio was an important
factor in determining the sustainability of the film
• The film’s rupturing force was also affected the
ratio
• The addition of a stabilizer highly affected the
sustainability of the film
• An increase in the diameter of the film highly
affected both of the things mentioned above
 CONCLUSION
• A sudden increase in the objects cross sectional area caused
the film to rupture right away regardless of other factors
• If the velocity of the falling object exceeds the given force on
the given diameter, the film ruptures
• The viscosity of the stabilizer was an important factor in
aiding the sustainability
REFERENCES
 References
• CaYPT (Jimmy Yang)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI9PuAVJPtw&t=136s
• PYPT reference Kit
• IYPT Team Pakistan 2018 (Ifrah Mehmood) blowing bubbles presentation
• Wikipedia.org